Engineer's Patent Awakening

Shaan tells a story about how his father switched careers after realizing he wasn't getting proper credit for his work as an engineer.

"My father worked at a big oil company as an engineer. When he was around 30-something, he looked around his office - the same office he'd been in for 10 years. He had all these patents on the wall, but he realized these were just certificates they give to pat you on the head and keep you doing your thing.

He noticed that when he'd hand his patent ideas to the business guy, that person would get promoted, go to London, and take credit for his idea. He thought, 'Maybe I should do the business guy thing, because those guys just take my ideas and run with it.'

So he switched to the business side. That's why when I wanted to pursue my own path, he understood. Most parents have this thing where whatever they regret, they push their kids to do differently."